​A love song from Tracy Coster’s dad unveiled at Tamworth

The daughter of one of Australia’s most prolific songwriters will return to the festival in a celebration of his life.

Bush Balladeer Tracy Coster returns with her second tribute album to her dad, the legendary Stan Coster, with the upcoming release of Coster Country Take II.

It’s been 20 years since the industry farewelled Stan, one of Australia’s most prolific songwriters who brought the bush and its characters to life for his listeners.

He was one of Slim Dusty’s premier songwriters with Dusty recording 76 of his songs including hits Three Rivers Hotel, By A Fire Of Gidgee Coal, and You Can Never Do Wrong In A Mother’s Eyes.

Stan continues to live on through Tracy and, after the success of the first Coster Country album, fans have been asking if she would release a sequel on Australia Day.

Tracy Coster won a Golden Guitar for Vocal Collaboration of the Year in 2005 with Anne Kirkpatrick for the song, Back to The Saltbush Plains, taken from the first Coster Country released in 2004.

This time there is a twist on the original concept, as just two weeks before Tracy began recording she was sorting through her dad’s possessions and found the lyrics of unrecorded songs.

“Since dad died, people have been asking if there were there any unreleased songs and I always said no because I didn’t believe there were any,” she said.

“I’ve found nine songs, most were love songs, so I think they are some of the original works.”

“I chose Australia Day because it is everything dad stood for, and it is fitting that it’s also at Wests’ Diggers,” Tracy said.

“That’s what Stan Coster was - he was Australia and as patriotic as it comes.”

Beccy Cole, Chad Morgan, Jeff Brown and Tracy’s sister Jayne Coster (Jayne Kelly), who has only just started singing, have all joined Tracy on the album and Glenn Jones and Jeff Brown will perform at the launch.

The details

Festival goers will be able to relive history with the new album launched at Wests’ Diggers Showroom on Australia Day, January 26, at 11am.